Chapter 5: Unfinished Business

Serena stood in the dimly lit warehouse, arms crossed as she studied the group before her. The weight of the moment settled in her chest. These were the people who would stand by her when the world collapsed. They were all reborn, just like her. They knew what was coming.

But this time, they would be ready.

Serena took a deep breath. "Alright, we've all been through this once before. This time, we're going to do it right. No hesitation, no mistakes. We have three months before the world goes to hell, and we're already down twelve days. We need to move fast."

Kiera leaned against a rusted crate, her arms crossed. "And you've been busy, huh? You already have supplies, weapons, food… What's next, an underground bunker?"

Serena smirked. "Not a bunker, but a base is on the list. First, we need to go over what we know, and second, we need to start training. We had powers in our last life, but we never got the chance to fully master them. That changes now."

Zane nodded, stepping forward. "Agreed. The stronger we are before the outbreak, the better chance we have at survival."

Serena turned to the twins, Leo and Lila. "You two are the youngest here, but that doesn't mean you're weak. Your powers are some of the strongest. We're going to train you just as hard as the rest of us."

Leo nodded seriously. "We want to be strong this time."

Lila, usually more timid, clenched her fists. "We don't want to die again."

A heavy silence filled the air. They all had memories of their deaths—memories of failure.

Serena broke the silence. "We're not going to."

The Powers and Their Potential

"Alright," Serena continued. "Let's go over our powers one by one. This time, we push our limits."

Serena Vale – Portal Master, Invisibility

"I can create portals to store supplies, travel long distances, and escape danger. The portal space keeps everything frozen in time—food won't spoil, and weapons won't rust. I can also turn invisible, which will be useful for scouting and stealing supplies if necessary."

Kiera smirked. "So you're our personal supply vault and stealth expert. Good to know."

Serena chuckled. "Pretty much."

Zane Calloway – Shadow Manipulator

Zane crossed his arms. "I control shadows. I can use them to cloak myself, form weapons, and even attack. Last time, I didn't train hard enough. This time, I'll learn how to use shadows for defense too—maybe even to move undetected through them."

Damien grinned. "So you're gonna be our assassin? I like it."

Zane smirked. "Call it whatever you want."

Kiera Monroe – Fire Conjurer

Kiera flicked her wrist, a small flame dancing on her fingertips. "I create fire. Last time, I was reckless, and it got me killed. This time, I'm going to master it—control the temperature, shape the flames, maybe even make barriers."

Leo's eyes widened. "That's so cool!"

Kiera winked at him. "I know, kid."

Damien Wolfe – Super Speed, Enhanced Reflexes

Damien stretched, a cocky grin on his face. "Super speed. Reflexes so sharp I can dodge bullets. I'll be the one handling scouting, hit-and-run attacks, and getting us out of bad situations when needed."

Serena nodded. "You were fast before, but you'll need to be faster. Last time, you could only carry one person while running at full speed. Let's fix that."

Damien smirked. "I'm up for the challenge."

Leo Graves – Telekinesis, Elemental Control

Leo hesitated before speaking. "I can move things with my mind… and I can control wind, water, and lightning."

Serena smiled. "You've got a lot of power, Leo. But you're going to need to focus. Can you do that?"

Leo nodded determinedly.

Lila Graves – Precognition, Sound Manipulation

Lila looked down, then back up. "I can see glimpses of the future… only a few seconds ahead. And I can control sound—make it louder, quieter, or send messages far away."

Zane looked thoughtful. "Precognition is going to be useful in fights. If we train it right, you might even be able to dodge attacks before they happen."

Lila's eyes widened. "I never thought of that…"

Serena grinned. "That's why we train."

The Plan

"Alright," Serena said, pulling out a notepad. "We're going to divide tasks."

1. Training: "We need to push our powers beyond what we knew in our past life. Every day, we train."

2. Securing a Base: "I already have a place in mind—an old, fortified building with underground storage. We'll need to clean it up and reinforce it."

3. Expanding the Group: "There are more reborn survivors out there. We need to find them before the wrong people do."

4. Avoiding Enemies: "Ava and Lucas are out there. We don't let them near us. We don't let history repeat itself."

Kiera cracked her knuckles. "I say we find them first and take them out."

Serena shook her head. "Not yet. We're not strong enough. We'll deal with them when the time is right."

Damien smirked. "And until then, we get stronger."

Serena nodded. "Exactly."

As they finalized their plan, Serena felt something she hadn't felt in a long time.

Hope.

This time, they had a real chance.

This time, they wouldn't just survive.

They would win.

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